Sunday, October 17, 2010
Mara River Water User's Association - Presentation in New York
The Equator Initiative has just posted the Mara River Water User's Association's Presentation from New York on their website.
Also, be sure to stop by the Equator Initiative site. There is a nice picture of Kennedy (Director of the MRWUA) attending a high level biodiversity event on their front page. Follow their link and you can read more about the event honoring all the Equator Initiative Prize Winners.
Serengeti Road Project Worries Kenya
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Serengeti-road-project-worries-Kenya-10180.html
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 15- Kenya has raised concern over Tanzania's plan to construct a 53 kilometer commercial road through the Serengeti National Park amidst worry it will jeopardize the sanctity of the park.
Speaking to Capital News, Wildlife Conservation Director Stephen Manegene said the road which is aimed at linking the Eastern and Western parts of Tanzania would introduce alien species in the world heritage site and disrupt natural ecological processes.
He argued that the road would also interrupt the annual wildebeest migration as it cuts across the major animal passage routes.
"The proposed site for the road is in the Northern part of the Serengeti which represents the area where animals assemble to move to the next step which is crossing the border and the Mara River into the better watered Maasai Mara. It is a very important area for the migration," he explained.
Mr Manegene also proposed that an independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be conducted before the construction was undertaken.
"The EIA must be done professionally and in a participatory manner. Let the East African countries who are all stakeholders be consulted and let them contribute to a decision about the proposed development of the road," he said.
According to the Wildlife Director, the highway would also increase wildlife mortality due to collisions between animals and vehicles. He added that the road would increase poaching in the park as it would facilitate transport for would-be poachers.
"If we go back to the impact, you realize that the road which will mainly be used for commercial purposes might end up registering an increase in the number of accidents because of the clash between wild animals and human beings," he said.
He also quoted a study conducted by Tanzanian authorities that proposed two road alignments - one of the roads would cut through the Park while the other that would go round it, to the South of the Serengeti.
"The only drawback to the Southern route according to the project proponent is that the route will be longer, and the longer the route the more the cost implications in terms of transport of goods and people," he said.
Mr Manegene however argued that the cost implications of the longer road seemed insignificant compared to the long term economic threat of cutting through the park.
"Given the importance of the Serenegeti and the Maasai Mara to the two economies of Kenya and Tanzania, it would be prudent to consider the alternative route. For example the Maasai Mara is the most visited protected area in Kenya and the counties of Narok and Transmara get 80 percent of their revenue from this site," explained Mr Manegene.
A study conducted by the University of British Columbia indicates that the Serengeti is the number one forex earner in Tanzania raising over $1 billion in 2009 and employing over 600,000 people.
Mr Manegene further said that the Serengeti had been placed under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee and that Tanzania would have to comply with its obligations.
The road was first discussed and put for forwarding to the World Bank about 20 years ago but based on the recommendation of a EIA report by the WB it was abolished.
Discussions on the construction of the road have been re-opened and government funds have been made available for the first phase. A 15 member committee comprising of representatives from TanRoads, Tanzania National Park (TANAPA), Ngorogoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) the President's Office and the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has been formed to help steer the project.
Read more: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Serengeti-road-project-worries-Kenya-10180.html#ixzz12cO1VUDV
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 15- Kenya has raised concern over Tanzania's plan to construct a 53 kilometer commercial road through the Serengeti National Park amidst worry it will jeopardize the sanctity of the park.
Speaking to Capital News, Wildlife Conservation Director Stephen Manegene said the road which is aimed at linking the Eastern and Western parts of Tanzania would introduce alien species in the world heritage site and disrupt natural ecological processes.
He argued that the road would also interrupt the annual wildebeest migration as it cuts across the major animal passage routes.
"The proposed site for the road is in the Northern part of the Serengeti which represents the area where animals assemble to move to the next step which is crossing the border and the Mara River into the better watered Maasai Mara. It is a very important area for the migration," he explained.
Mr Manegene also proposed that an independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be conducted before the construction was undertaken.
"The EIA must be done professionally and in a participatory manner. Let the East African countries who are all stakeholders be consulted and let them contribute to a decision about the proposed development of the road," he said.
According to the Wildlife Director, the highway would also increase wildlife mortality due to collisions between animals and vehicles. He added that the road would increase poaching in the park as it would facilitate transport for would-be poachers.
"If we go back to the impact, you realize that the road which will mainly be used for commercial purposes might end up registering an increase in the number of accidents because of the clash between wild animals and human beings," he said.
He also quoted a study conducted by Tanzanian authorities that proposed two road alignments - one of the roads would cut through the Park while the other that would go round it, to the South of the Serengeti.
"The only drawback to the Southern route according to the project proponent is that the route will be longer, and the longer the route the more the cost implications in terms of transport of goods and people," he said.
Mr Manegene however argued that the cost implications of the longer road seemed insignificant compared to the long term economic threat of cutting through the park.
"Given the importance of the Serenegeti and the Maasai Mara to the two economies of Kenya and Tanzania, it would be prudent to consider the alternative route. For example the Maasai Mara is the most visited protected area in Kenya and the counties of Narok and Transmara get 80 percent of their revenue from this site," explained Mr Manegene.
A study conducted by the University of British Columbia indicates that the Serengeti is the number one forex earner in Tanzania raising over $1 billion in 2009 and employing over 600,000 people.
Mr Manegene further said that the Serengeti had been placed under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee and that Tanzania would have to comply with its obligations.
The road was first discussed and put for forwarding to the World Bank about 20 years ago but based on the recommendation of a EIA report by the WB it was abolished.
Discussions on the construction of the road have been re-opened and government funds have been made available for the first phase. A 15 member committee comprising of representatives from TanRoads, Tanzania National Park (TANAPA), Ngorogoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) the President's Office and the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has been formed to help steer the project.
Read more: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/Serengeti-road-project-worries-Kenya-10180.html#ixzz12cO1VUDV
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Monday, October 4, 2010
Who cares what happens to the Mara?
Just saw this news article and found it interesting. Here is an excerpt...
Mohamed Mohiedeen is an Egyptian sociologist who has long been critical of Egypt's stance on regional Nile issues.
"We think we are unique. We think that we are superior. There is a 1929 and a 1959 agreement and they are recognized by the international community, and whatnot and all that," Mohiedeen says. "But the other part of the story is we are not doing the necessary things to ease our own problems."
Egypt and neighboring Sudan are refusing to sign a new agreement with other Nile basin countries to more equitably share the water. But if the other countries agree to the old colonial guarantees, it could be hydro-suicide for them.
John Nyaro is Kenya's chief negotiator among the Nile basin countries. A number of Kenya's rivers empty into Lake Victoria, at the beginning of the White Nile.
"We cannot convince our people that that water belongs to Egypt or Sudan or another country," Nyaro says. "In Mara, Maasai Mara, if a Maasai is crossing the river Mara with his cattle, can he convince those cows, 'No, you cannot drink this water. This water belongs to Egypt?'"
Mohiedeen says the only way forward is to lower expectations for water usage within Egypt. Chances are Egyptians will continue making do with less, he says.
Just another remind of the international importance of maintaining flows in the Mara River.
Mohamed Mohiedeen is an Egyptian sociologist who has long been critical of Egypt's stance on regional Nile issues.
"We think we are unique. We think that we are superior. There is a 1929 and a 1959 agreement and they are recognized by the international community, and whatnot and all that," Mohiedeen says. "But the other part of the story is we are not doing the necessary things to ease our own problems."
Egypt and neighboring Sudan are refusing to sign a new agreement with other Nile basin countries to more equitably share the water. But if the other countries agree to the old colonial guarantees, it could be hydro-suicide for them.
John Nyaro is Kenya's chief negotiator among the Nile basin countries. A number of Kenya's rivers empty into Lake Victoria, at the beginning of the White Nile.
"We cannot convince our people that that water belongs to Egypt or Sudan or another country," Nyaro says. "In Mara, Maasai Mara, if a Maasai is crossing the river Mara with his cattle, can he convince those cows, 'No, you cannot drink this water. This water belongs to Egypt?'"
Mohiedeen says the only way forward is to lower expectations for water usage within Egypt. Chances are Egyptians will continue making do with less, he says.
Just another remind of the international importance of maintaining flows in the Mara River.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Pink Hippo
I was not going to post on this but I am now because it seems like people have become captivated by the sighting of a pink hippo in the Mara.
Rare Pink Hippo Discovered in the Masai Mara
Interesting to note that a hippo with reduced pigmentation usually would not survive very long. Perhaps his survival chances are augmented due to the increased turbidity of the Mara?
Rare Pink Hippo Discovered in the Masai Mara
Interesting to note that a hippo with reduced pigmentation usually would not survive very long. Perhaps his survival chances are augmented due to the increased turbidity of the Mara?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Mara River Water User's Association in NEW YORK!
Following up on Amanda's post from earlier this week, Kennedy has been making his rounds in New York City as he brings the message from the Mara River Basin to the United Nations.
Who is this posing with Kennedy? None other than Gisele Bundchen, supermodel and UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Who is this posing with Kennedy? None other than Gisele Bundchen, supermodel and UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Award Ceremony for the Equator Prize
In July, we posted that the Mara River Water User's Association (MRWUA) had been awarded a 2010 Equator Prize from the Equator Initiative. As part of the award, a representative from the MRWUA was invited to New York City to participate in a 10-day long program. Kennedy Onyango, the Manager of the MRWUA, has been in NYC since September 14, participating in discussion forums with representatives from other award-winning community organizations. One of their goals has been crafting a statement community-based biodiversity conservation, which they will present at the United Nations on Thursday.
Today Kennedy will accept officially the Equator Prize on behalf of the MRWUA at a high level event sponsored by the United Nations Development Program.The theme of the evening is Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Climate Change: Scaling Up Local Solutions to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Invited speakers and guests include the Executive Secretary for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Executive Secretary for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Award Ceremony will be presided over by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, and others. Read more about this invitation-only event here. Congratulations again to the MRWUA for winning this impressive award!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Biodiversity Conference: Day 2
Hot off the press, here are my latest notes from the 2010 International Biodiversity Conference in Kenya. Key speakers today included a representative from USAID/Kenya who gave an excellent presentation on the protection and preservation of habitat critically important both in terms of biodiversity and cultural heritage (SECURE Project). Also notable were presentations by Drs. Walter Jetz (Yale) and Andrew Marshall (University of York). Their work highlighted the important need for improved data sources for predictive planning efforts in light of climate change and land cover transformation. Tomorrow will be the final day of the conference and I am hoping for lively debate to transpire from the information presented thus far.
Mara Triange in the News
Anyone who has ever been to the Mara Triangle know of the great job Mr. Brian Heath and his staff are doing to protect the system. If you haven't been, you should go. Below is a link to an article that just appeared in the Daily Nation...
Human-wildlife conflict declines in the Mara
Poaching and human wildlife conflict has declined at the world’s famous Maasai Mara game reserve due to joint surveillance patrols between Kenya and Tanzania, a conservationist has said.
According to the chief executive officer of Mara Conservancy Brian Heath, tourists have increased as a result of the move. The organisation is a private company that manages the Mara Triangle, which is the North Western part of the reserve on behalf of Trans Mara County Council.
read more...
Human-wildlife conflict declines in the Mara
Poaching and human wildlife conflict has declined at the world’s famous Maasai Mara game reserve due to joint surveillance patrols between Kenya and Tanzania, a conservationist has said.
According to the chief executive officer of Mara Conservancy Brian Heath, tourists have increased as a result of the move. The organisation is a private company that manages the Mara Triangle, which is the North Western part of the reserve on behalf of Trans Mara County Council.
read more...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Biodiversity Conference: Day 1
The Kenya International Conference on Biodiversity, Land Use and Climate Change got off to a slow start today but showed much promise. Plenary presentations by KWS and the Tourism Board of Kenya quickly challenged attendees with the substantive problems at hand. Highlights of the day included Dr. Julius Kipn'getich and Dr. David Western. Dr. Kipn'getich eloquently described the many challenges facing Kenya and the broader East Africa region. Issues such as unconstrained population growth and a changing climate threaten the welfare of both humans and wildlife alike. Dr. Western made a simple but profound criticism: protected areas in their current form are wholly ineffectual at curbing the systemic loss of biodiversity. One key fact describes this dismal reality: species loss within protected areas (PAs) is roughly equivalent to that outside of protected areas. While the ineffectiveness of PAs may be intuited or presumed, it is another reality altogether to be presented with irrefutable facts describing the inadequacy of this foundational protective measure. An eye opening day indeed.
You can read more in the conference notes for Day 1.
You can read more in the conference notes for Day 1.
Threat to Tourism
Four days ago, I linked to an article reporting that Gold is being prospected on the Kenya side of the Mara River Basin. The Standard has now picked up the story and it is being labeled a threat to tourism.
A few choice excerpts:
Conservationists have said gold mining in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem would kill the multi-billion-tourism industry.
Maasai Mara Group Ranches consortium spokesperson Sammy Nkoitoi said on Tuesday mineral prospecting in the Mara would be an alternative for the majority who have not benefited from tourism and asked the government to intervene.
"Any alternative sources of income in the region will spell doom to conservation prospects. It is time short term benefits are weighed against long term ones," he said.
He said for years, illegal gold prospecting and trade had been going on in the reserve and asked the government to halt the development because it would kill the tourism industry, which was a major employer.
Get the full story at The Standard.
A few choice excerpts:
Conservationists have said gold mining in the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem would kill the multi-billion-tourism industry.
Maasai Mara Group Ranches consortium spokesperson Sammy Nkoitoi said on Tuesday mineral prospecting in the Mara would be an alternative for the majority who have not benefited from tourism and asked the government to intervene.
"Any alternative sources of income in the region will spell doom to conservation prospects. It is time short term benefits are weighed against long term ones," he said.
He said for years, illegal gold prospecting and trade had been going on in the reserve and asked the government to halt the development because it would kill the tourism industry, which was a major employer.
Get the full story at The Standard.
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